President Bio Sacks Chief Immigration Officer Alusine Kanneh, Appoints Moses Tiffa Baio

The Government of Sierra Leone has announced a series of key appointments to leadership positions in major public institutions.

In a statement issued by the Office of the President, His Excellency Brig. (Rtd) Dr. Julius Maada Bio approved the appointments of Mr. Moses Tiffa Baio as Chief Immigration Officer

The appointments, announced by Secretary to the President, Dr. Emmanuel A.R. Gaima, take immediate effect.

These leadership changes are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance public service efficiency and drive national development.

The appointment effectively terminates the services of Alusine Kanneh, Former Chief Immigration Officer, who has come under scrutiny after being identified in a video alongside Jos Leijdekkers, a convicted Dutch drug kingpin now believed to be operating in Sierra Leone.

Leijdekkers’ presence in the country has caused shockwaves, particularly after he was seen chatting with Agnes Bio, a daughter of President Julius Maada Bio, at a church service.

The video in question, filmed at Freetown’s Scarlet nightclub in early 2023, shows a scuffle between Leijdekkers, using the alias “Omar Sheriff,” and a businessman. Kanneh is also visible in the footage. While Kanneh denies any association with Leijdekkers’ alleged criminal activities, claiming he was merely trying to break up the fight, his presence in the video has raised questions.

Adding to the controversy, reports have surfaced of Kanneh’s substantial property purchases in the United States, raising concerns about the source of his funds. When contacted by Africa Confidential about these purchases, Kanneh denied owning the properties but failed to provide further evidence as promised.

Leijdekkers’s connection to President Bio’s daughter, Agnes, further complicates the situation. The two have been pictured together on social media, and Agnes Bio is a rising figure in Sierra Leone’s diplomatic circles, currently serving at the UN. This connection has fueled speculation about potential high-level involvement in Leijdekkers’s alleged drug smuggling operations.

The incident at the nightclub, coupled with Kanneh’s presence, has brought Sierra Leone’s immigration system and its potential vulnerabilities into sharp focus.

The investigation into Leijdekkers’s activities and his connections within Sierra Leone continues, placing Kanneh’s role and his relationship with Leijdekkers under increased scrutiny.